What’s it worth to drive to work unafraid your car might explode into flames as a result of an improvised explosive device hidden along your route? What’s it worth to send your kids off to school not worrying if an evil band of hooded men will take their classroom hostage killing several innocent children? What’s it worth to go shopping for more than just the necessities without a bomb going off in the middle of the market? What’s it worth to log onto your computer and read this blog or send an email to a friend or loved one any time of the day you wish? What’s it worth to sit at home and watch two teams battle it out on the football field knowing the losing team is not going to be put to death for their loss?
“dear soldiers’ angels,
i have just received the laptop and blanket and would like to say from the bottom of my heart thank you. what meant the most to me was the coin that was in the card. if there is anything this marine might be able to do for you in the future please ask. your support means a lot to us and countless others that will be going after us. once again thank you.
America’s sons and daughters have been in the fight against terrorism for six years now and there are certainly countless ways to show our appreciation. We can offer a pat on the back and a handshake, a smile and a hearftelt “thank you,” a cold beer or a meal are all wonderful ways to thank a Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman, or Coastguardsman. But if you really want to show your appreciation, help take care of those in our ranks who have paid dearly, our wounded warriors.
ValourIT provides an excellent opportunity to say Thank You in just the right way. I highly encourage all to show your appreciation and chip in through team Army.
While my opinion of the French government and French wines is for the most part not very positive, I do have good things to say about the French military. When I was stationed in Italy several years ago, flying CH47 helicopters across Europe and the Balkans, I often found myself in France for a RON (remain overnight), usually enroute to another destination. I recall on several occassions landing at a French airbase just outside Dijon where we were always met with professional Soldiers, eager to refuel our aircraft, secure our weapons, and provide us with transportation to a hotel in the heart of the city (not to mention suggestions as to where we ought to spend our evening enjoying the local culture).
There is a certain kindred spirit among Soldiers, regardless of the flag under which they serve, and I never once blamed our French hosts for the horrid food we suffered while passing through their AO.
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti (American Forces Press Service, Feb. 8, 2007) - Soldiers, Sailors and Marines from the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) recently graduated from a grueling five-day French commando’s course at the Commando Training Center in Arta, Djibouti.
The servicemembers trained on everything from hand-to-hand combat to short range marksmanship and beach assault.
Maybe Heinlein was onto something with his notion that only veterans could be elected to public office. Sgt Hook out.
The Militiary Channel is looking for personal videos shot by the men and women in our armed forces as part of a new series focusing through the lens of those who serve.
Real-life moments captured on film by service members will be broadcast on the Military Channel as part of a new on-air programming initiative. Servicemen and women anywhere in the world who brought a camcorder with them on a recent deployment, or those who currently have a camera with them on the frontlines, can submit their videos directly to the Military Channel.
If you read one post in the blogosphere this week, make it this one.
“I lost my legs not for this country, but for the country of Iraq, so their children will be able to run around, just like mine,” he said as he watched his daughters, ages 3 and 5, playing on the hospital grounds. “If time was turned back, I’d do it all over again.”
And yes, that is an order soldier. Go read NOW! Sgt Hook out.
As I usually focus on your Soldiers and your Army, it is important to note that your Marines are right there in the thick of things making a difference in this Global War on Terror, especially in the battle for Iraq. From Villanous Company comes this most outstanding of posts, highlighting what one Marine General on the front lines is seeing, both good and bad.
What we are seeing now is a significant shift in the tribes. They are coming over. How does this manifest itself? How is it more than just my words? The Sunni sheiks are having their young guys join the Iraqi police. The reason is they will go to their local areas after they go to training academies in various countries outside of Iraq and they return, when they come back, they go back to their home areas.
So you’ve got the tribes shifting over, their kids joining the police. You’ve got the Iraqi army and the Iraqi security forces today, they are probably running around, about 52 percent of the casualties in our medical treatment facilities are Iraqi security forces. Which says something about the nature of the fight and the nature of the Iraqi troops who are now represented among the casualties. It’s one way to indicate whether or not they are really in the fight or not.
So these are significant shifts right now. And the transition teams and the Marines who are over there, fighting in a very lethal area where the efforts have been unrelenting, have basically achieved successes that we would not have anticipated this early in this process.
Read the whole post, you won’t regret it, in fact, share it with your MSM contacts, that IS an order soldiers! Sgt Hook out.
I wish to extend my sincerest congratulations to the men and women of the seafaring, bell bottom wearing, swashbuckling, naval service for their victory over Army today. Well done goats! Sgt Hook out.
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – While a father wears the 1st Cavalry Division combat patch on the battlefield in Iraq, on game day, half a world away, his son sports the same patch on the gridiron. Both father and son wear the same patch into their respective battles.
Capt. Frank Williams Jr., trial counsel, 1169th Engineer Group, has seen every one of his son’s games until this season, he said.
That’s because in July he mobilized for deployment to Iraq, just after his son left to attend the U.S. Military Academy on a football scholarship, said the Cullman, Ala., native.
Now a plebe (Freshman) at West Point, Carson Riley Williams is the starting quarterback for the Black Knights. The nineteen-year-old has come a long way from home, his father said.
Even though Williams has missed most of his son’s games this season, he still takes comfort knowing that Carson wears the same patch for games as he puts on every morning to go to war, he said.
“We were shocked when they (West Point) placed the 1st Cavalry patch on his chest. Both of us thought it was ironic we’d both be wearing the same patch,” Williams said. “He and I both liked the idea. It’s like the icing on the cake. I think he wears it very proudly knowing I wear it over here too.”
And then there is this from the makers of Ranger Coffee…
Sounds like good advice to me, now you know what I’ll be doing tomorrow. Go Army! Beat Navy! Sgt Hook out.
This site is a collection of my writings, thoughts, and ramblings and in no way reflects the official positions of the United States Army or the Department of Defense. OPSEC trumps everything.
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In view of a recent tendency to identify characters in fiction with real people, it seems proper to state that there are no real people in this volume: both the characters and their names are ficticious. The names or designations of any military units are ficticious. There are no living people nor existing military units presented in this book.
-Ernest Hemingway
Halfway down the road to hell,
In a shady meadow green,
Are the souls of all dead troopers camped
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddler's Green.
-Author Unknown
The Blog of War
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